SOCIOL 2CC3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Confidence Trick, Methamphetamine, Ideal Type
8 Mar 2019
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
Lecture #5
Deviant Careers: Organization of Becker & MJ
Deviant Careers!
- Central topic in sociology of deviance!
- Idea that all individuals labeled deviant follow a career process marked by series of
stages → once label has stuck, enter into career path !
- Part of process of developing deviant ID!
- Most research on the deviant career focused on the following: !
- Individuals entry into a deviant career!
- Via associating with known deviants!
- Via labeled deviant by others!
- Process of becoming deviant !
- Individuals motivations to engage in deviance!
- Why in face punishment, penalty, stigma!
- Formation of deviant ID !
- Early stages of specific deviant careers !
- Learning process (education, meanings, norms/values, expectations)!
- Socialization into cultures of !
- ex. Becoming a grifter, numbers-runner, drug-dealer!
- Leaving/exiting a deviant career!
- Process involved → gradual vs. “cold-turkey” (out & never go back)!
- ex. Quitting stripping, prostitution !
- Almost no research on the mid-career experience!
- Many are deviant → hard to get access to individuals who will talk about illegal
activity !
- 2 major concerns within literature on deviant career:!
1. Developing a theory of how deviant careers are organized!
2. Characterizing the nature of the deviant career experience !
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1. Organization of Deviant Careers!
- # of researchers claim:!
- Deviant careers structurally similar to legit occupational careers !
- Can modify existing models of legit occupational career and apply to study of deviant
career!
- Concept of “career” refers to:!
- Movements individuals make from one position to another within an
occupational structure (professional job; highly organized roles/functions)!
- These movements linked to changes to self & ID!
- How individuals enter → manage exes → quit, get fired, retire from (a process)!
- Becker & Strauss (1956)!
- Study of respectable organizational careers!
- Used metaphor of ‘multistoried building’ to typify !
- Each floor = career position (higher = better job, perks, more responsibilities) !
- Individuals ride escalators from one floor to the next → illustrates upward/
downward mobility in an organization!
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Tuesday, March 6, 2018
- # of definitive features associated with a legit career:!
1. All positions are formally defined and have written rules!
- Responsibilities, benefits, privileges, relationships between employees!
2. Pathways for mobility are clearly established!
- How individuals move from one position to another within organization!
- Individuals must possess certain competencies/skills!
- Is a public matter (publicly posted = equalitarian)!
3. Greater rewards associated with upward mobility!
- Increase in money, benefits, perks, job security (make appealable)!
4. Career becomes central to individuals life and self ID!
- Career extends across entire life!
- Is individuals only occupation → no moonlighting !
- This metaphor is an “ideal” type!
- Not all legit careers fit this model but share # of similarities!
- Some individuals will experience:!
- Ambiguous career paths, limited upward mobility !
- Change career paths, move to another organization, etc.!
- Luckenbill & Best (1981)!
- Critical of model: cannot apply legit career analogy to experience of deviant careers!
- Why? → are too many important differences!
- Deviant careers are disorganized, episodic, uncertain, risky, rapid (because illegal)!
- Common characteristics of deviant career trajectory:!
- Develop within relatively unstructured environments!
- Are ad hoc, emergent → depends on various characteristics outside of actors
control!
- Lack hierarchy of well-defined positions!
- No CEO’s, managers → except organized crime (ex. mafia, bikers, drug
dealing)!
- Authority resides in the individual, not in the office (often more skilled,
charismatic) !
- Role inhabitants learn codes of conduct that are:!
- Situational → depend on contexts that vary!
- Relational → involve other deviants, are unstable, depend on personality!
- Lack institutional supports!
- No social control agents to enforce rules/mediate disputes!
- Individuals vulnerable to betrayal/exploitation by associates!
- Positions and relationships are relatively ambiguous !
- Subject to ongoing interpretation and negotiation!
- Relationships governed by custom (created on fly) rather than formal rules!
- Career pathways unclear → may not involve upward mobility!
- Individuals more likely to experience downward mobility!
- ex. Prostitutes, as age, are seen as less attractive!
- Make less money, higher risk of violence (John’s (clients) risker)!
- Job rewards and security uncertain!
- Constant risk of getting caught and incarcerated!
- Can be betrayed by colleagues!
- Risks do not diminish as deviant career proceeds!
- May increase → become known to police!
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Document Summary
Idea that all individuals labeled deviant follow a career process marked by series of stages once label has stuck, enter into career path. Part of process of developing deviant id. Most research on the deviant career focused on the following: Process involved gradual vs. cold-turkey (out & never go back) Almost no research on the mid-career experience. Many are deviant hard to get access to individuals who will talk about illegal activity. 2 major concerns within literature on deviant career: developing a theory of how deviant careers are organized, characterizing the nature of the deviant career experience, organization of deviant careers. Deviant careers structurally similar to legit occupational careers. Can modify existing models of legit occupational career and apply to study of deviant career. Movements individuals make from one position to another within an occupational structure (professional job; highly organized roles/functions) These movements linked to changes to self & id.
